Trail is awesome. There is a 3 mile yellow trail used mainly for hiking and biking. You will discover the blue trail which was built in coop with Little Ade's bike guys and the Pekin Park District. Lots of nice single track, jumps, loop de du's, and switch a roos.
Very nice for central IL. Don't pass this up!

User Reviews (44)

Steep climbs. I mean really steep. Also pretty overgrown. A few downed logs that cause you to carry your bike. There are also a few eroded points on descents that make it a bit technical. Between the overgrowth, the downed logs and the incredibly steep climbs I spent a lot of time walking my bike. There are a couple really cool bridges though and the scenery is pretty good, reminded me of Lord of the Rings in a few areas. I went at the begining of spring after/during the rain season. It was really humid and the forest was very lush. It sort of felt like I was in a jungle/rain forest. If the trails were groomed and you avoid the steepest climbs this place is a pretty fun ride. Definately a work out!

Customer Service

I say take the BLUE route. From what I understand the BLUE route was designed by Lil Ade's so it was designed with bike trail riders in mind. The YELLOW route has most of the extremely steep ascents and seems to be designed for hikers.

Similar Products Used: Indy in Marquette Heights. Farmdale Resevoir in East Peoria.

OVERALLRATING

3

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

r. s. Weekend Warrior

[May 20, 2013]

Steep climbs. I mean really steep. Also pretty overgrown. A few downed logs that cause you to carry your bike. There are also a few eroded points on descents that make it a bit technical. Between the overgrowth, the downed logs and the incredibly steep climbs I spent a lot of time walking my bike. There are a couple really cool bridges though and the scenery is pretty good, reminded me of Lord of the Rings in a few areas. I went at the begining of spring after/during the rain season. It was really humid and the forest was very lush. It sort of felt like I was in a jungle/rain forest. If the trails were groomed and you avoid the steepest climbs this place is a pretty fun ride. Definately a work out!

Customer Service: I say take the BLUE route. From what I understand the BLUE route was designed by Lil Ade's so it was designed with bike trail riders in mind. The YELLOW route has most of the extremely steep ascents and seems to be designed for hikers.

Similar Products Used:
Indy in Marquette Heights. Farmdale Resevoir in East Peoria.

OVERALLRATING

3

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

MrMatson Cross Country Rider [Oct 16, 2012]

I've only been to Dirksen once so take this with a grain of salt but overall I did not get a good impression. The trail was poorly maintained, with logs and spider webs everywhere. It was poorly marked and I ended up lost and turned around several times. All that said there were several short sections where the trail had some very nice flow to it, the problem was these sections were punctuated with long frustrating periods of being lost, spitting out spider webs and carrying my bike over downed logs in the trail. Overall I think there are better options in the area. Indy for example is right down the road, much better maintained and overall a better ride. Maybe I'll have to go out an give it another chance next season.

I've only been to Dirksen once so take this with a grain of salt but overall I did not get a good impression. The trail was poorly maintained, with logs and spider webs everywhere. It was poorly marked and I ended up lost and turned around several times. All that said there were several short sections where the trail had some very nice flow to it, the problem was these sections were punctuated with long frustrating periods of being lost, spitting out spider webs and carrying my bike over downed logs in the trail. Overall I think there are better options in the area. Indy for example is right down the road, much better maintained and overall a better ride. Maybe I'll have to go out an give it another chance next season.

I've been at Dirksen three times in the last week. It is a great ride. Almost all of the trails are cleared. There are a couple of downed trees on the blue line, but the yellow is clear. Last weekend we managed to clear two downed trees off the trail. This morning I rode the whole park and only found one spot that was in NEED of a saw.

I'm still quite new, and still find this park lots of fun. Not overly technical, but enough to stretch me and help me learn. The Spline kills me every time!

Customer Service

I park at the archery range and take the hill down to the awesome bridge. Turn right and go out to Kevlar, go East to the meadow and up to the blue line. After the long bridge jump on the cliff trail and take it back to the meadow.
Depending on my legs I'll run through the flying W and hit the blue line North. After you make the loop and get back to the bottoms I go back up Kevlar and take the blue line back across!

Similar Products Used: Independence park

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

hey_poolboy Weekend Warrior

[Sep 16, 2012]

I've been at Dirksen three times in the last week. It is a great ride. Almost all of the trails are cleared. There are a couple of downed trees on the blue line, but the yellow is clear. Last weekend we managed to clear two downed trees off the trail. This morning I rode the whole park and only found one spot that was in NEED of a saw.

I'm still quite new, and still find this park lots of fun. Not overly technical, but enough to stretch me and help me learn. The Spline kills me every time!

Customer Service: I park at the archery range and take the hill down to the awesome bridge. Turn right and go out to Kevlar, go East to the meadow and up to the blue line. After the long bridge jump on the cliff trail and take it back to the meadow.
Depending on my legs I'll run through the flying W and hit the blue line North. After you make the loop and get back to the bottoms I go back up Kevlar and take the blue line back across!

Similar Products Used:
Independence park

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

dgw2jr Cross Country Rider [Jun 04, 2012]

Trails were overgrown in many areas and there were some trees down. We rode about a mile and decided to go back to the parking lot.

APRIL 10 2010 Yellow trail in really good shape, no downed trees or blockages, only a little soupy in a number of places due to springs bubbling to the surface. Blue trai also in great shape with no blockages. GET OUT AND RIDE BEFORE THESE TRAILS ARE GONE FOREVER DUE TO HOMES BEING BUILT ON WHAT WAS PARK GROUND.

Customer Service

We usually start from the archery range and cross the creek over the big bridge and head right or east to climb Kevlar hill and will either follow the yellow trail or blue depending on amount of tim ena dhow the legs feel.

Similar Products Used: Independence park and if your old school enough try McNaughten which is just accross the road from Dirksen. Watch out for horse poop.

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

XCR STU Weekend Warrior

[Apr 10, 2010]

APRIL 10 2010 Yellow trail in really good shape, no downed trees or blockages, only a little soupy in a number of places due to springs bubbling to the surface. Blue trai also in great shape with no blockages. GET OUT AND RIDE BEFORE THESE TRAILS ARE GONE FOREVER DUE TO HOMES BEING BUILT ON WHAT WAS PARK GROUND.

Customer Service: We usually start from the archery range and cross the creek over the big bridge and head right or east to climb Kevlar hill and will either follow the yellow trail or blue depending on amount of tim ena dhow the legs feel.

Similar Products Used:
Independence park and if your old school enough try McNaughten which is just accross the road from Dirksen. Watch out for horse poop.

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

Ryan Weekend Warrior [Jun 21, 2009]

I don't know where people are coming from saying anything good about this place. Totally overgrown and unmaintained. Trees down everywhere. Every inch covered in mud (and it hadn't rained for days before I went). Probably the worst place I've ever been to.

Similar Products Used: Independence, Jubilee

OVERALLRATING

1

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

2

★★★★★

★★★★★

Ryan Weekend Warrior

[Jun 21, 2009]

I don't know where people are coming from saying anything good about this place. Totally overgrown and unmaintained. Trees down everywhere. Every inch covered in mud (and it hadn't rained for days before I went). Probably the worst place I've ever been to.

Similar Products Used:
Independence, Jubilee

OVERALLRATING

1

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

2

★★★★★

★★★★★

jon langerfielder Weekend Warrior [Dec 04, 2006]

as of 2005 & 2006 these are sort of overgrown, not as much fun as they were when they were "newer." Contact little aids in pekin and they will steer you in the right direction.

Similar Products Used:marquette hights, jubilee, etc

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

3

★★★★★

★★★★★

jon langerfielder Weekend Warrior

[Dec 04, 2006]

as of 2005 & 2006 these are sort of overgrown, not as much fun as they were when they were "newer." Contact little aids in pekin and they will steer you in the right direction.

Similar Products Used:marquette hights, jubilee, etc

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

3

★★★★★

★★★★★

fireboy Weekend Warrior [Oct 28, 2004]

This is still one of my favorite trails in the Peoria area. Jubilee and Dirksen are the oldest MTB trails around here, and while Jubilee is being ruled and regulated to death by the Illinois Dept. of Nat. Resources, Dirksen's trails still provide a great challenge to riders of all skill levels. The northshore stuff and dirt jumps are slowly disappearing, but the trails are still in great shape and some of the most rugged and technical around here. The bridges mentioned in other reviews have been rebuilt and are worthy of automotive traffic (thanks Randy!), so come out and enjoy!!
The Pekin locals (Tim, Randy, Mike, Deon, Scott, and many others) established the loops off of the main yellow trail and still provide maintenance for these trails. Stop in at Little Ade's Bike Shop for a map, or download one off of the Little Ade's website or the Peoria Area Mountain Bike Association website www.pambamtb.org .

Customer Service

Park at the top of the archery range entrance and hit the short connector trail to the bottom of the bluff. Cross the HUGE bridge over the creek and hike a right turn, get lost, find your way back to the HUGE bridge in a couple hours and go back up the hill to your car. Drink often to keep your lips from sticking to your teeth due to the perpetual smile on your face.

Similar Products Used: Farmdale in East Peoria
Indy in Marquette Heights
Jubilee in Brimfield

OVERALLRATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

fireboy Weekend Warrior

[Oct 28, 2004]

This is still one of my favorite trails in the Peoria area. Jubilee and Dirksen are the oldest MTB trails around here, and while Jubilee is being ruled and regulated to death by the Illinois Dept. of Nat. Resources, Dirksen's trails still provide a great challenge to riders of all skill levels. The northshore stuff and dirt jumps are slowly disappearing, but the trails are still in great shape and some of the most rugged and technical around here. The bridges mentioned in other reviews have been rebuilt and are worthy of automotive traffic (thanks Randy!), so come out and enjoy!!
The Pekin locals (Tim, Randy, Mike, Deon, Scott, and many others) established the loops off of the main yellow trail and still provide maintenance for these trails. Stop in at Little Ade's Bike Shop for a map, or download one off of the Little Ade's website or the Peoria Area Mountain Bike Association website www.pambamtb.org .

Customer Service: Park at the top of the archery range entrance and hit the short connector trail to the bottom of the bluff. Cross the HUGE bridge over the creek and hike a right turn, get lost, find your way back to the HUGE bridge in a couple hours and go back up the hill to your car. Drink often to keep your lips from sticking to your teeth due to the perpetual smile on your face.

Similar Products Used:
Farmdale in East Peoria
Indy in Marquette Heights
Jubilee in Brimfield

OVERALLRATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

FishMan473 Cross Country Rider [Nov 17, 2003]

This is one of my top 5 favorite trails anywhere. Very steep, technical singletrack. Also some northshore style stuff, too bad it's all falling apart. Trouble is the trails aren't well maintainted, so only out of 5 chili's because of nasty erosion potential and overgrown trails (mostly garlic mustard and honeysuckle grrrrrrrrr!).

Customer Service

Dunno, I seem to get lost every time but the loops are short so just keep riding and you'll figure it out eventually

Similar Products Used: Independence Park!

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

FishMan473 Cross Country Rider

[Nov 17, 2003]

This is one of my top 5 favorite trails anywhere. Very steep, technical singletrack. Also some northshore style stuff, too bad it's all falling apart. Trouble is the trails aren't well maintainted, so only out of 5 chili's because of nasty erosion potential and overgrown trails (mostly garlic mustard and honeysuckle grrrrrrrrr!).

Customer Service: Dunno, I seem to get lost every time but the loops are short so just keep riding and you'll figure it out eventually

Similar Products Used:
Independence Park!

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

Greg Huwe Weekend Warrior [Oct 23, 2003]

This is one the accessible trails in central Illinois. The trails are for a levels and give a get work out. plus are still open for new trails and jumps.

Customer Service

Rt. 98 between fresibe course and first stop light. turn at the pekin archery sign and follow ip the road.

Similar Products Used: indy and kickapoo

OVERALLRATING

4

★★★★★

★★★★★

VALUERATING

5

★★★★★

★★★★★

Greg Huwe Weekend Warrior

[Oct 23, 2003]

This is one the accessible trails in central Illinois. The trails are for a levels and give a get work out. plus are still open for new trails and jumps.

Customer Service: Rt. 98 between fresibe course and first stop light. turn at the pekin archery sign and follow ip the road.